Edgar Berlanga appears to bite Roamer Angulo, still wins by unanimous decision

After getting named 2020’s Prospect of the 12 months by various publications, which includes Athletics Illustrated and The Athletic, Edgar Berlanga, 25, was acclaimed as the Puerto Rican Mike Tyson. The 16 opponents Berlanga set to rest in his initial 16 fights towards journeyman fighters tied the document and led to individuals early Tyson comps. Having said that, the knockouts have stopped given that Berlanga bumped up to a larger echelon of fighters. And then he little bit a male.

On Saturday evening, Berlanga (20-, 16 KO) fought Roamer Alexis Angulo (27-3, 23 KO) in the major party of a Top rated Rank card at the Hulu Theater inside Madison Sq. Backyard. It was there that Berlanga, in his hometown of New York Metropolis, confirmed a national audience just how brief he falls of the buzz.

The CompuBox punch stats paint a good photograph for the A-side fighter. Berlanga landed 25.5 per cent of his punches total (108 of 423) to Angulo’s 22 p.c of punches landed. Berlanga landed 35.8 % of his power punches (58 of 162), but finished less than Angulo, who landed 67, but threw 231 electric power punches.

Through the seventh spherical, Berlanga morphed into the worst iteration of Iron Mike all through the seventh spherical of his tremendous middleweight bout. Though participating in a keep of Angulo, Berlanga leaned in and appeared to sink his teeth into Angulo’s shoulder.

Berlanga afterwards spelled out that his determination to chew on Angulo was a lot more acutely aware than impulsive.

“He was throwing elbows. I was about to do a Mike Tyson on him,” Berlanga said throughout his post-fight job interview. “He stored throwing his elbows, and I didn’t want to get minimize.”

“Teeth = Elbows” is an intriguing equation for the judges to variable in, but labored out for Berlanga. Following his hangry conduct subsided, Berlanga was allowed to end the fight and was awarded a controversial unanimous choice (98-92, 99-91, 99-91). The chunk was a dumb, impulsive choice that ought to have resulted in a suspension of his boxing license if the activity experienced a significantly less tolerant governing overall body. His model is tarnished. Berlanga stays undefeated, but the glow is managing off. Berlanga’s victory over Angulo was the fourth straight matchup he’s won by choice because his 16-match knockout streak was snapped.

The lengths Berlanga resorted to speak to his approaching limits. Now that Berlanga is no longer cracking open up journeymen and is compelled to go 12 rounds with a slew of gatekeepers, his boxing skill has experienced to take precedence over his knockout means. Instead, his jab, footwork and electricity punching have all been uncovered seeking. Even his chunk was a inadequate Tyson imitation. Tyson broke skin on Evander Holyfield’s ear in a large-stakes heavyweight title combat, whereas Berlanga experienced to vacation resort to cannibalistic approaches to endure a 38-year-outdated, earlier-his-key Angulo — the form of opponent the 2020 Prospect of the Calendar year would have been predicted to conquer.

Inspite of surviving his most important card versus Angulo, the hurt to Berlanga’s status is done. The prospect has been panned for his overall performance in the ring in recent victories and if Prime Rank carries on to drive him into matches from more powerful opponents, he’ll be headed for the sort of devastating reduction that completely stains younger fighters. It feels bizarre to say this about an undefeated fighter, but anything has to alter in the Berlanga camp. For whichever reason, his advancement as a fighter has stalled. The buzz was previously outpacing the expertise, but judges have saved him in current fights. It may not be extended until eventually he receives in in excess of his head.